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Crime Beat: Chain-wielding suspects sought

Police from York’s holdup squad are looking for two chain-wielding suspects after a pair of early morning robberies in Vaughan and Richmond Hill last week.

In both incidents, a chain was used to intimidate the victims, police say.

On June 19 at about 1 a.m., two men entered the Mac’s Milk convenience store on Bathurst St. south of Centre St. and forced the lone employee to hand over cash from the register, police say.

The two suspects made off with the money and items from the counter area. They fled in a black Honda that was last seen heading north on Bathurst, police say.

At about 1:25 a.m., two men forcefully demanded money and cigarettes from the lone attendant at a Richmond Hill Sunoco gas station on Yonge St. north of Hwy. 7, police say.

The attendant couldn’t open the register, police say, but the suspects fled with a number of items. They were last seen heading toward Roosevelt Dr. on foot.

Neither victim was hurt.

Police describe the first suspect as male, black, in his 20s, 5-foot-8, with a slim build. He was wearing a dark-coloured hooded sweatshirt, a white bandanna over his face, dark jeans with worn patches on the back, dark shoes and white gloves.

The second suspect is described by police as male, black, in his 20s, 5-foot-10, with a muscular build. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt, a white bandanna over his face, a dark-coloured baseball hat, dark pants, dark sunglasses and white gloves.

Anyone with information contact the York holdup squad at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6630, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.1800222tips.com.

House fire leads to discovery of grow-op

A fire inside a Thornhill home last week led to the discovery of a marijuana grow-operation and the arrest of one man.

On June 20, fire personnel attended a house fire in the area of Clark and Henderson Aves. near Yonge St.

The basement and attic were fully engulfed in flames and neighbouring homes were in jeopardy, police say.

Firefighters extinguishing the blaze noticed a marijuana grow operation in the basement of the house and notified police.

A warrant was executed on the residence and 60 marijuana plants and electrical equipment were seized.

The Ontario Fire Marshall determined the cause of the fire was arson, due to reckless electrical wiring and fixtures directly associated with the grow op.

Police say this incident demonstrates the dangers posed by grow ops, including the risk of fire and explosion due to illegal wiring, the over-loading of circuits and dangerous chemicals.

Investigators were able to identify a suspect and arrested him without incident when he returned to the residence.

Hung Truong, 39, of Markham, faces charges of arson endangering life and production of a controlled substance.

Police say residents should notify them if they suspect a grow-op is operating in their neighbourhood. Signs that a home could be a grow-op include the sound of electrical generators, unusual traffic at odd times and unusual garbage, like fertilizer containers.